2009 Review

Peyton's little brother isn't so little anymore. In 2009, the lesser of two Mannings came out of his shell to put up his best statistical year to date. The players around him may not have been as good as in years past (I wonder what jail they are in now), but that didn’t stop Eli from putting up borderline fantasy starter numbers. His pattern of starting seasons on fire stayed true to form, but Eli was then slowed for a handful of games by a plantar fasciitis injury that would linger for the rest of the year. Regardless of the injury, Manning came out of the team’s bye week with obvious purpose and closed out the year with some nice fantasy numbers. Still, he was inconsistent after the fourth week of the season (as has become his trademark), but was definitely able to be plugged in as a starting fantasy QB if you found the right games to do so.

2010 Fantasy Outlook

Considering his entire receiving corps last year was made up of a bunch of guys no more than 25 years of age, Eli should at least be able to duplicate his numbers of 2009 this upcoming season. It probably won’t be by much if it happens, as its possible some serious over-achieving was going on (Ahem, hello Steve Smith), but he should come close enough to put him on the edge of starting fantasy QB status. It shouldn’t be forgotten that Eli is a Manning, and though he will never be as good as his older brother, the potential to be better than what he has been so far is always there, so feel free to take a chance on him once the other top guys are off the board.

~ An off-season of rest and rehab should do his foot a whole bunch of good heading into the season

~ Another full off-season of work with his young receiving corps will get them more in sync than they were in 2009

~ With Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw coming back healthy, opposing defenses will have to pay more attention to the run

~ He's got a new stadium that will host the Super Bowl in 2014, so expect Eli to want to work towards that

Contract

Before Eli signed his massive seven-year, $106.9 million contract in August of 2009, his agents were actually pushing for an unreal $20 million per season. He came close, signing for just over $15 million per, which says a lot for his agent considering Eli isn’t an elite QB. The deal also contained $35 million guaranteed, including a $13 million signing bonus and all but $1 million of Manning's 2009-2011 base salaries, along with another $500,000 available in each season from 2010-2015 via annual workout bonuses. The rest breaks down as so:

If an 0-2 record gives a team a 15% chance of making the playoffs (supposedly) what does it mean for an 0-3 team? The New York Giants face the same situation they did last season, and don't want it to get to that point again.

Manning will need to rely on Victor Cruz, now that Jerrel Jernigan is out for the season and Odell Beckham will be out for Sunday's game.

Pyro's take: Eli Manning needs to cut down the interceptions and increase the touchdowns for the Giants to win. Can he do it? Not without any of his receivers. Larry Donnell and Cruz will be targeted a lot in this game. Ruben Randle will need to come up big as well.

With the first preseason game one week away for the Giants, coach Tom Coughlin was asked about the progress of the new offense, saying it’s “two steps forward and one back.” Eli Manning took one of those steps forward today at training camp, opening up with a sharp drive at practice. Later on in 1-on-1 and 7-on-7 drills, Manning was also on point, completing strong passes to his wide receivers. “The more we can stay together, keep people healthy, and keep working; small gains, as I say,” Coughlin said. “It’ll come. There were parts of this drill today that were very good.”

Pyro's take: It's a good thing that Eli won't be running the same offense that led to pathetic fantasy numbers last season. Eli is looking to regain the form he had in 2011, and with the weapons around him he could come close. With the team undertaking a new offense, it is understandable if it takes a little time for the offense to really click, but the focus is there from Eli and the offense to bring them back to their glory days. He is going to be a great fantasy value as a backup this season.

Eli Manning has stated that his ankle is fine two months after ankle surgery. "Yeah, 100 percent, yeah," Manning said when asked if he could play a game right now. "The ankle, I don't think about it, don't notice it. I go about practice and do everything and they’re not even worried about it. So, it hasn't been an issue. No question I could play tomorrow."

The next step is to get acclimated to new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo's system, it may take some time, as he has been limited in OTA's.

Pyro's take: Eli loves to throw interceptions, and his 27 he threw last year, places him 19th in NFL history. So, seeing that he needs to get acclimated to a new offensive coordinator and a new scheme, could lead to some interesting play from the veteran quarterback.

In considering Eli Manning's over all numbers he has throw for 171 interceptions in 153 games played, and has only thrown over 30 touchdowns once in his career. Not to mention he does not add anything of value in the running game.

He should be a bottom feeder on your fantasy tier sheet, or non-existent if your league accounts for interceptions.

The explosive lawsuit filed by a sports memorabilia dealer against Eli Manning and the Giants this week alleges that team employees lied to federal agents investigating fake game-used jerseys, but the dealer’s lawyer doubts that prosecutors will pursue perjury or obstruction of justice charges against Big Blue employees.

Attorney Brian C. Brook, who represents New Jersey dealer Eric Inselberg in the suit that claims quarterback Eli Manning and team officials sold bogus “game-worn” gear to unsuspecting fans, said it is exceptionally rare for prosecutors to seek perjury charges against their own witnesses – even if their false testimony derails a criminal case.

“Obviously, we would like to see justice done, whether through the civil suit or through the criminal justice system – or both,” said Brook, of Clinton, Brook & Peed. “As a criminal defense attorney, I’d like to see the people who lied to the grand jury face charges.”

Brook said Justice Department officials have not contacted him about possible perjury or obstruction charges.

Manning and the Giants said earlier this week that the lawsuit has no merit, and a club spokesman said the team will battle allegations that team employees lied to investigators “as vigorously as well against all other allegations.”

Pyro's take: If it wasn't bad enough that Eli Manning just suffered through his worst season of his NFL career, now he has this potential black eye. This will most likely be cleared up, but it fits the way things have been going for Eli lately.

Since his breakout in 2011 when he threw for 4,933 yards Manning only has thrown for 7,766 with 44 touchdowns and 42 interceptions. Eli and the Giants have not been able to produce a balanced attack, and the amount of mental mistakes they have been making will surely have Eli drafted as a backup next season. He still will have value as a reserve, especially if he can get Victor Cruz and Ruben Randle going.

Despite the reports that he has a stress reaction in his foot that will hamper his play the rest of the year, Giants quarterback Eli Manning has been practicing in full all week and says his performance won't be hindered at all because of the injury.

Pyro's take: The fact that he is going through all the normal drills in practice leads us to believe that Eli will be just fine... until he's not. One wrong move could still end his season. However, he shouldn't be too bad of a play for your fantasy football team this weekend.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning recently said that his plantar fasciitis is feeling just fine and that it is behind him at this point in the season, but now he is dealing with another injury, a stress reaction in the same foot, due to overcompensating for his previous injury.

Pyro's take: The stress reaction shouldn't keep Manning from playing unless it turns into a stress fracture. In the meantime, the team has been resting him and putting him through rehab to combat this new injury. We'll see in the coming weeks, we'll how Eli's fantasy football stats are affected by all this.

When asked about his early-season bout with plantar fasciitis, Giants quarterback Eli Manning had this to say:
"That injury I think is kind of over and done with," Manning said. "A week off and not practicing and not putting any pressure on the body or the arm definitely helps, refreshes the whole body."

Pyro's take: Eli has always been a first-quarter of the year type of quarterback, and that trend hasn't changed this season. He's no better than a QB2 going forward on your fantasy football team, and shouldn't be started against his tougher match-ups.

According to Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis), his recent struggles have nothing to do with his injured right foot. "That's not an excuse I can fall on," Manning said. "It's not bothering me at all."

Pyro's take: We were telling anyone in the fantasy football world who would listen to sell high on this guy, as his stats over his career show that injury or no injury, he falls off the mountain every single year after the first four games of the season. Hopefully some of you listened...

Pyro's take: This can be an expected occurrence on Wednesdays for awhile to keep the star quarterback healthy. He has a very favorable match-up against the Cardinals this week and should be started in every fantasy football format.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) has been declared active for the showdown against the Saints today

Pyro's take: This was expected, and it looks like Manning will be able to last the whole game, unless the Saints get to him and re-aggravate his injury. Start him on your fantasy football team if you got him.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) was limited at practice again on Thursday.

Pyro's take: Manning won't miss the battle of the undefeateds this Sunday, guaranteed. The game could become a shootout, so feel free to start him on your fantasy football team this Sunday and have a blast watching the points fly.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) will be out on the practice field today on a limited basis as the team prepares for the Saints this weekend. "Hopefully we can build up as we go along," coach Tom Coughlin said.

Pyro's take: The Giants are gonna need Eli to put up points against the offensive beast that is the Saints. Get him in your fantasy football lineup this weekend if he turns out to be healthy.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning thinks he'll be able to get in a full week of practice before the team's Week 6 match-up against the Saints.

Pyro's take: He's gonna need it too, as the Giants offense will need to be working on all cylinders to keep up with the Brees-led Saints. Eli figures to be a good fantasy football start again as this contest could very well be a shootout.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) took half of the first-team snaps in practice on Friday and coach Tom Coughlin said that he "did fine". Eli is listed as questionable on the injury report and will be a game-time decision.

Pyro's take: It's looking like Manning will play, but we doubt he'll be passing the ball very often. The Giants will likely run quite a bit against a weak Oakland rush D, so look for another fantasy football QB1 this week if possible.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) missed once again on Thursday to rest his ailing foot.

Pyro's take: He'll most likely miss practice all week and be a game-time decision on Sunday. If he ends up playing, we'd still suggest looking elsewhere on your fantasy football team for a starting QB. Check back Sunday morning to see if he's a go.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning (plantar fasciitis) missed practice on Wednesday, but coach Tom Coughlin said that he could still play in Week 5 even if he doesn't practice all week. He'll likely be a game-time decision on Sunday.

Pyro's take: We still believe it's a good idea to rest Eli for a bit, as backup David Carr should have no problem disposing of the lowly Raiders on Sunday. Either way, we suggest looking elsewhere for your starting fantasy football QB this week.